BELFAST – It’s all square after the Evoke Super 20 Trophy double-header today at Stormont, with the Dragons and Typhoons winning a game apiece with Irish internationals putting in dominating performances.
In the first game of the day, the Dragons ran out comprehensive winners by 41 runs after Terenure’s Sophie Reid struck 61 off 40 balls, ably supported by Orla Prendergast (40 off 26 balls), Alana Dalzell (31 off 22 balls) and Leah Paul contributing a run-a-ball 16 in the late overs. Reid registered 8 fours and a six in her masterful innings, but it was far from a one woman show. Bready’s Dalzell looked at her attacking best at the top of the order, and Prendergast – who has been playing in England this season so far – looked in ominous form. Only a misjudged shot – where she walked across her stumps to access the fine leg region, but missed the ball and was bowled – halted her progress.
With 190 the target, the Typhoons looked to tackle the challenge admirably, but fell away in the run chase once Rebecca Stokell (45 from 32 balls) fell, with the score on 87 in the 11th over. Stokell – and opening partner Louise Little (37) – looked to take on the positive options and played well together as they set about the chase. But the pair fell within five balls of each other and from a well-set 87-0, the Typhoons were suddenly 91-2 and the momentum stalled.
Lara Maritz (25 off 22 balls) tried to mount a late counterattack, but the side in blue ran out of overs and fell 41 runs short.
Game Two couldn’t have contrasted any further. After more than 340 runs were scored in the first match, the two sides battled out a very low scoring affair in the late afternoon sun in Game 2. The Dragons won the toss and batted for the second time in the day, but this time no batter made it past 15, and Ava Canning – who didn’t play in Game 1 – came in and grabbed an incredible 4-8 off her 4 overs.
Where during Game 1 the Dragons’ batters looked in control, in Game 2 they played some loose shots which led to their downfall, and several batters were dismissed with balls that kept unexpectedly low. The Dragons were bundled out for 83, and at the innings break the victory seemed a straightforward assignment for the Typhoons.
But never count the Dragons’ Irish internationals out – Arlene Kelly, in particular, starred with a mesmerising 5-8 from her 4 overs, while Freya Sargent (1-18) and Lara McBride (1-24) bowled tightly. Wickets fell regularly throughout the Typhoons’ innings and eventually from the last ball of the 17th over, the Typhoons achieved the target – but for the loss of 8 wickets and more than a few nervous Typhoon-supporting onlookers.
With the Evoke Super 20 Trophy now all square, the sides meet again next Sunday at Pembroke for a second double-header.
MATCH SUMMARIES
Typhoons v Dragons, 1st Match Evoke Super 20 Trophy, Stormont, 10 May 2026
Dragons 189-5 (20 overs; S Reid 61, O Prendergast 40; A Lawlor 1-22)
Typhoons 148-5 (20 overs; R Stokell 45, L Little 37; L McBride 2-27)
Dragons won by 41 runs
Typhoons v Dragons, 2nd Match Evoke Super 20 Trophy, Stormont, 10 May 2026
Dragons 83 (17.2 overs; S Reid 15, A Dalzell 15; A Canning 4-8)
Typhoons 87-8 (17 overs; G Dempsey 24; A Kelly 5-8)
Typhoons won by 2 wickets
